Beyond a set of ‘doors to nowhere’ in the car park at Mark Smith Reserve in Blenheim lies Marlborough’s newest neighbourhood - a community of fairies.
Following a request from local home-based educators Nurture@Home Marlborough, Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Team designated a small plantation of trees at the reserve for the establishment of a fairy playground.
“Mark Smith Reserve, being home to the ‘tractor playground’, neighbouring the Taylor River Reserve, and away from the street, was a safe space, and its forest-like setting made it ideal for a fairy playground,” said Parks and Open Spaces Officer Kiri Whiteman.
“Nurture@Home Marlborough children and their educators crafted the fairy doors to attach to the trees; creating an exciting space for children to explore.”
The Parks and Open Spaces team sourced a large set of doors from the Blenheim Recycling Centre, painted them and had them installed at the entrance to the forest, giving it a ‘grand entrance’.
Since it opened late last year, the space has been monitored by the Nurture@Home Marlborough community, who work to ensure it is kept tidy. Council contractors also keep an eye on it when they’re in the area, Kiri said.
The fairy playground is open for the whole community to explore. Anyone wanting to add a new door to the area should contact Debbie - marlb@nurtureathome.co.nz or 027 300 8656.
